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Cruise the Gulf of Orosei by dinghy to swim at Cala Mariolu, Goloritzè and more.
Reserve
7 hr 30 min
Full-day boat trip along Sardinia's Orosei coast, with stops at three stunning beaches and Cala Goloritzè.
Reserve
7 hr 30 min
Full-day boat cruise along the Gulf of Orosei with three beach stops and a Cala Goloritzè photo stop.
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
A striking 143-meter limestone spire that serves as a beacon for climbers.
A dramatic geological vault framing the crystal-clear waters near the beach.
The essential staging area for hikers offering parking and final supplies.
Dense native flora providing shade along the winding mule tracks.
They complement each other; most visitors who do both call the trekking path the more physically rewarding experience, while the cala gonone dinghy tour offers superior coastal exploration. You can secure your cala gonone dinghy tour tickets for a flexible day at sea or choose the trail for a grounding trek through limestone cliffs.
| Feature | Top pick Dinghy Tour | Hiking the Trail |
|---|---|---|
Physical exertion |
Low — seated transit | High — steep descent and ascent |
Time commitment |
Full day (variable) | 4–6 hours (round trip) |
Accessibility to beach |
Direct water arrival | Foot access only |
Ability to visit other beaches |
High — multi-stop itinerary | Limited to destination beach |
Required equipment |
Boat (provided) and sun gear | Hiking shoes and water supply |
Flexibility |
High — weather dependent | Limited — set trail path |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Opt for a cala gonone dinghy tour tour when you want to explore the wider Gulf of Orosei coastline, or choose the hiking route for a focused, athletic journey to this UNESCO-listed landmark.
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Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Località Su Porteddu, Baunei
Primary parking and trail entrance.
Drive to Su Porteddu on the Golgo Plateau; parking is included in your fee.
Sturdy, closed-toe footwear is mandatory for the hiking trail to ensure safety on loose rocks. Casual beachwear is appropriate once you reach the shore.
Keep belongings minimal and lightweight as there is no storage available at the trailhead or beach. Security checks for your digital QR code are conducted at the entrance.
The Aguglia pinnacle and the natural stone arch are iconic subjects. Always respect the environment and refrain from using drones without local authorization.
The trail is not suitable for individuals with mobility issues due to the steep 500-meter elevation change. The rocky path requires good physical condition.
Mobile reception is limited along the trail. Ensure your entrance QR code is saved offline or as a screenshot before arrival.
The hike is physically demanding and generally not recommended for small children. Ensure your group is prepared for a strenuous 3-hour round-trip excursion.
There are no amenities at the beach, so you must carry all necessary supplies. Bring at least 2 liters of water per person as there is no fresh water on-site.
Pets are not allowed on the beach or the protected hiking trails of the area.
The 7 EUR conservation fee covers your entrance and parking at the Su Porteddu area. Always check local weather forecasts before departing for your trek.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
Mild temperatures and lower crowds, perfect for long hikes.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Tickets sell out in minutes, so book 72 hours in advance at midnight.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
A famous deep natural sinkhole located on the Golgo Plateau.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
All tickets for the conservation fee are non-refundable once purchased. Ensure your travel plans are confirmed before securing your entry.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Local stays near the trail start point.
Cala Goloritzè is younger than most of the paths that reach it. A rockslide in 1962 broke away from the flank of Monte Caroddi and poured pale limestone scree into the sea, and the beach formed from that debris. Above the shoreline the Aguglia rises roughly 143 metres, a needle of dolomitic limestone first climbed in the 1980s and still worked by route-setters. The arch at the northern end of the cove was cut by water, not quarried. Italy declared the site a natural monument in 1995. No road reaches the water. The cove sits beneath the Supramonte in the municipality of Baunei, province of Ogliastra, and can be entered only on foot from the Golgo plateau or from the sea. That second approach explains the local charter trade: Cala Gonone Dinghy Tour tours run south along some forty kilometres of shoreline that carries no coastal road at all, one of the longest undeveloped coasts in the western Mediterranean. Fishermen were ferrying visitors down this stretch long before the harbour filled with rigid-hulled gommoni. The coastline reads as a sequence of karst. Grotta del Bue Marino opens at sea level a few minutes south of the harbour, named for the Mediterranean monk seal that sheltered there until sightings ceased in the 1990s. Beyond it lie Cala Luna with its row of caves, Cala Sisine at the mouth of a dry canyon, Cala Biriala, and Cala Mariolu, where freshwater springs surface offshore and white pebbles line the seabed of the Piscine di Venere. Each cove is the end of a valley, drowned by a rising sea. Any Gulf of Orosei boat cruise is therefore a reading of geology in order, north to south. What the coast now needs is restraint. Baunei caps beach entry at Cala Goloritzè at 250 people and charges a conservation fee of 7 EUR per person, which includes parking at Su Porteddu; the site keeps hours of 07:30–14:00, seven days a week. Motorboats hold their distance offshore and passengers swim or tender the last stretch, which is why a Cala Gonone Dinghy Tour tour is measured in anchorages rather than landings. The water here runs clear well past ten metres, and the cliffs above it have never carried a building.
"The arch at the northern end of the cove was cut by water, not quarried."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You show your Cala Gonone Dinghy Tour tickets at the harbour and step down to the pontoon early, before the afternoon wind builds off the cliffs. The briefing is short: lifejackets, fuel, the route south. On a guided charter the skipper takes the helm; on a self-drive gommone within the licence-free engine limit, it is yours. Cala Gonone shrinks behind you and within ten minutes the Supramonte stands two hundred metres straight above the water. The first stop is Grotta del Bue Marino, where the engine drops to idle and the swell pushes you into shadow at the cave mouth. Further south you cut power at Cala Luna, then swing wide into Cala Mariolu. You slide off the tube and the anchor chain is legible on white pebbles thirteen metres down. Bring your own mask if you have one; snorkelling here is the point. At Cala Goloritzè the boat holds position offshore, as regulations require. The Aguglia comes over the bow first, a limestone spire against the sky, then the arch resolves at the waterline. You swim in, or you drift and photograph from the tubes. Then the bow turns north, the wind sits behind you, salt dries on the neoprene, and the same coast passes in reverse — the coves reading now from south to north, each one shorter than the memory of it.
Yes, booking through the official site is necessary to manage visitor flow.
Most boat tours allow you to view the beach from the water, but they cannot dock.
The fee is 7 EUR per person, which includes parking at Su Porteddu.
The trail is open 07:30–14:00 daily, though you can stay until 17:00.
No, boats must anchor 300 meters offshore to protect the beach.
Parking at the trailhead is included in your conservation fee.
Children up to age 5 enter free, but must be included in the booking.
Tickets are non-refundable; check your schedule carefully before booking.
It is best to dedicate your day to either the hike or the water tour.